Why do you want to keep alpacas?

If you are interested in the idea of keeping alpacas, it is important to talk to as many owners and breeders as possible.

Visit people who have alpacas to get experience in handling and how to position fencing to make moving the alpacas easier.

Attend shows and listen to the judge’s comments about good and less good alpacas to learn how to select your herd.

Local BAS alpaca groups provide an excellent way of meeting other owners and gaining basic handling and welfare information.

The BAS has a registry of alpacas which are all microchipped and tagged for identification.

Having gathered lots of information, you can then decide if you are going to breed alpacas, or own a group of them for pleasure and the fibre.

If you intend to breed, your herd should comprise of the best quality females you can afford and possibly a stud male. Alternatively, stud services can be purchased from other breeders. If you do not wish to breed, the cheapest way to set up your herd is by purchasing castrated males.

Alpacas are such wonderful animals that once you own some you will never look back.

Fibre

Alpaca fibre is desired by the fashion industry and yarn producers because it is a hollow fibre, making it very light but extremely warm.

It is a very strong fibre and yet it is soft and silky. It has a high lustre which gives the garments a sheen without an artificial shininess. It also has high durability and washes very well. Unlike sheep wool it does not contain lanolin and so it is hypoallergenic.

There are 22 natural colours including true black but it also accepts dye readily. The fibre is also quite fire resistant.

Alpaca fibre can be used for clothing, rugs, duvets and soft furnishings. The fibre is very popular with hand spinners because it is easy to work with.

The prospect of buying an unsound alpaca without even realising it, until too late, is scary. There is a large financial commitment involved and an animal with serious faults may affect your breeding programme and the saleability of offspring.

It is important when buying alpacas that you buy one that is sound in conformation.

It is easier to breed in better fibre characteristics and volume than it is to breed out conformation problems or genetic defects.

To live a long and productive life as a fibre producer, alpacas need to carry their fibre on a sound frame.

There are many genetic defects that are undesirable in alpacas, most of which would meet with immediate disqualification if the animal was taken to a British Alpaca Society run show. Alpaca faults in general can be categorized as being caused by: